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An Interview with Steve Kasan, Star and Producer of Wasted

by Mike Haberfelner

March 2015

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Your upcoming movie Wasted - in a few words, what is it about?

 

Wasted is a zombie stoner geek comedy. It is a fun, high octane ride where you see a group of friends have high adventures in the zombie apocalypse. Unlike most characters in all zombie films, our characters WANT the zombie apocalypse to happen. Our characters are a reflection of today's world. We acknowledge zombie related items and like most people I am sure who have got together with their friends and ask "What would we do in an outbreak?" This is for you!  

 

Wasted has been entered into the CineCoup 2015 challenge - please explain the rules and requirements of the challenge for a bit, and why did you choose this route to try to fund your movie?

 

Cine Coup allows filmmakers the opportunity within 12 weeks to present their project to the public and say "check out my project and get on board!" In those 12 weeks are voting rounds which wind down the projects entered into the Top 60, 30, 15, final 5 who will pitch to the Cine Coup producers as to why they deserve a shot at funding. There are challenges for sure because in 12 weeks we are doing what a major studio does in 4 or 5 months. That is marketing, explaining what their film is, and try to get people to say "There is something to this, I want to watch this as a full film!" It's really exciting and nerve-wrecking because we have to make quick decisions & see if those decisions stick. You might have a great concept but how do you enhance it to where not just a niche, but entire audiences will be up for it.

 

What do you think makes Wasted stand out among the contesants of the challenge? And since zombie films are a dime a dozen these days, what makes yours special?

 

The biggest feedback is we get is due to the zombie aspect. Let's be honest, zombie genre has become zombie culture. It has over-saturated the market much like how vampires had. What makes Wasted different is, again, we want to bring a fun side to the apocalypse. The best zombie film characters are not the zombies, but, the people and their stories. The Walking Dead is about the survivors, they are literally the "walking dead". It is in our characters and our personal influences which we bring to Wasted will make our project stand out. And, we also want to evolve zombies to where we have our own special brand of zombies.

 

Do talk about both Wasted's brand of humour and approach to horror for a bit!

 

Wasted is a hybrid of sorts in that we are bringing influences from everything we grew up in. We live in a time where our generation grew up exposed to all types of what is now popular geek media. Comicbooks, video games, cartoons, even wrestling. We all grew up watching classic horror movies loving the same icons such as Jason, Freddy, Pinhead. Our approach to both the horror & comedy is our influence. We love gory stuff, it gives some talented makeup effects artists jobs after all, but, we also like some witty BBC comedy as well. My favourite BBC shows are Fawlty Towers, 'Allo 'Allo and Only Fools & Horses. It's just trying to put them together where it is not overload but just right.

That influence even goes with our brand of zombies as well. We are the Nintendo generation, there are tons of games we can take to make our zombies unique.

 

You will also be appearing in front of the camera in Wasted, right? So what can you tell us about your character, and what will you draw upon to bring him to life?

 

The best part of how we approached Wasted is that all the characters are based on ourselves. What you see on screen is a reflection of our personality, but just tweaked a bit. A better way to explain our characters, or the main cast, is that we are like the Ninja Turtles. When you look at that they are all turtles and ninjas obviously; but, Leonardo is totally different from Raphael. We might be all friends and like the same horror films, but, we are all identified by our traits. I would say my character is more Leonardo with a bit more action & wrestling character edge to him.

 

How did you get involved with the project in the first place, and how did you end up on the production side of things as well?

 

I am an actor, and the rest of the cast & crew are in the industry. Some do it full time as their regular day job. Some do it outside their employment. We are all friends first off and that is the key aspect. We built a team and trust each other. I'm sure anyone out there who undertakes anything knows you need a core team. A crew that believes in the project, whatever it is. So each person has to take more than one job.

When we make it then we can hire underlings and chillax with hookers and pizza, but for the time being you have to take more than one role. Otherwise you are slacking, and that hurts not only the project but the team as well.

 

What can you tell us about the rest of Wasted's key cast and crew, and why exactly these people?

 

The funny thing about Wasted is that, as mentioned, the characters are a reflection of people today. How Wasted began was like, I'm definitely sure, after watching a zombie film we sat around, drank, smoked up a bit and talked what we would do in a zombie apocalypse. Thus the genesis of the Wasted bible. Since we did build a team of people we trust each other. Especially in this competition you need that trust because each week CineCoup gives us a mission to do. These missions are examples of introducing more of the project, the team members, and the idea to latch on.

It is a big Wasted family and we have many other traits we bring.

Lance Fernandes is our main editor, motion effects, co-writer.

Sid Nagenthiram is our director, co-writer, actor, co-producer.

Claire Bonduro acts, also does marketing.

Lovina Yavari acts and helps out with other side aspects of Wasted we can get into such as comicbooks and brand it off. Plus contributes to the story.

Darrin Drugan acts but also helps with music as he is a rapper/producer as well.

Samuel Lin acts but takes other main jobs.

As mention before your team has to put on other hats. Who else are you gonna trust?

 

Let's say you get your film funded through CineCoup - when will you go into production, and any idea when and where the movie might be released onto the general public yet?

 

The last time CineCoup ran this challenge, Wolf Cop won. I am not sure when they started production but I do believe the film first got released in Canada through our chain of theatres. Then brought overseas for festivals & review. It is available now on Blu-ray. It's really a fun film, I encourage you guys to check it out.

 

Any future projects beyond Wasted?

 

Yes, I have a feature film which I am both starring and co-producing in called Past Tense. It is an adventure comedy and set in the year 1990. About a crazy professor, a loan shark and a time machine. It's a throwback of sorts to films we enjoyed watching, I would say it is very Bill & Ted. Just a film fun which you can watch any time.

Here is our trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QOHAdgN274

 

What got you into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?

 

At first I wanted to be more of a writer & director and got into Film/Television in my highschool years. As many know in high school and post secondary some times you have to act in front of the camera as well. When I did that, as the saying goes, the acting bug bit me. I took some training, especially Sears & Switzer, here in Toronto, Canada. They are fantastic so if anyone of you reading this and want to become an actor, and is living in Toronto, seek them first.

 

What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Wasted?

 

I have worked a lot in the more of the web series community here in Toronto. I have appeared in short films and indie features, but a lot of web series. I am starring in a time travel action drama called Out of Time. You can find that on Facebook, look for "Out of Time Series".

Also other web series such as Clutch, Asset, Pete Winning & The Pirates, the new Standardized, which is coming out. A lot of web stuff.

 

How would you describe yourself as an actor, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life?

 

For me as an actor is that I get live out many lives which I do not normally do. One day I am a doctor, another day I am a gangster pulling off a heist, the next day I am with the woman I love, the day after I am saving the day from aliens. That is the way I approach in that I get to live so many lives. I don't have a particular technique, just that no matter what I am doing I have to believe. Even if it is the most dumbest thing imaginable. Acting is all make believe and the audience is smart enough to know that this person is not giving their all. They don't believe it. So, if I believe it, if I take it seriously, then the audience will.
Example, I did not attend my high school graduation ceremony. I missed that part out, but, years later I got to take part in a graduation ceremony for a commercial. Yes, it is all fake but to me it was real. I got to live out that moment which I didn't in real life. Again, if I believe it is real then you will.

I would also say watch everything. Even if it is bad because there things you can take which you can apply to your craft.

 

Actors (and indeed actresses) who inspire you?

 

I think Cate Blanchett is untouchable. She is the best thing going toda,y the stuff I have seen from her inspires me. There is Leonardo DiCaprio who rules, and Joaquin Phoenix. This guy is really doing some incredible work recently. You can see total character difference from The Master to Her and recently Inherent Vice

Also, I have to say Arnold Schwarzenegger inspires me personally. Just his persona and overall story. No matter what you think of the guy, he came to America with nothing and now he is one of the most recognizable people ever. And, he has a ton of charisma. You know he is in the room.

 

Your favourite movies?

 

I have a ton and all are different. I would say the one film that inspired me was Conan the Barbarian. That film literally changed my life, I watch all the time on my birthday. Think about it, there really is no film like it out there. Sure, there are imitations but nothing that comes close to it. There is just something operatic about it. I could go on and on about  Conan the Barbarian, but, "that is another story which will also be told"... see what I did there to any Conan fans reading this.

Since this is about zombies I will say my favourite zombie films are still Dawn of the Dead, the original and Snyder's remake. The original the message still rings true to this day. And Snyder's remake is just pure fun. It's the original but pumped full of steroids. Jolly good time.

 

... and of course, films you really deplore?

 

It's funny that being on the producing side and being on both sides of the camera there is a lot of work put into productions. So I come from the perspective that nobody sets out to make a bad film. That would be stupid, you waste all this money only for something to be crap? C'mon man! Even most films which most likely everyone hates you can pick out stuff and learn from it. 

But, there are films out there which is just pure trash. Alone In The Dark... shit! I paid money to see that in theatres.

 

Your/your movie's website, Facebook, CineCoup-page, whatever else?

 

CineCoup page: http://www.cinecoup.com/wasted/trailer

Facebook  www.facebook.com/Wastedshow

Twitter  www.twitter.com/Wastedtheshow

 

Anything else you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

 

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One last thing and this is for anyone reading, this CineCoup challenge all the projects are in the hands of the people. You get to vote which project goes through to that Top 60, Top 30, Top 15, finally that Top 5. To get there we NEED your support. The only way to support is by signing up to CineCoup. It works the same way as making a Facebook account. Just put in your name, where you are from, your email. Verify your account and you can start following projects.

Find our project Wasted - http://www.cinecoup.com/wasted/trailer - and follow us, give us a rating out of 5 stars, leave a comment, share our project on you social media handles. Let your friends/family/people know about us as well.

You will be notified when it is time to vote and then vote us in.

It is through your voice, you saying "Yeah, I dig this project. I want to see this made. I want to get wasted while watching Wasted" that tells CineCoup that we deserve a shot.

See, not only we want to make the best zombie film, we want to make the most fun film! The most enjoyable ride you can have in 90 minutes.

In order to do that we need your help. My guarantee is to make the most radical film possible, we just need to get there.

 

Thanks for the interview!

 

© by Mike Haberfelner


Legal note: (re)Search my Trash cannot
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Thanks for watching !!!



 

 

In times of uncertainty of a possible zombie outbreak, a woman has to decide between two men - only one of them's one of the undead.

 

There's No Such Thing as Zombies
starring
Luana Ribeira, Rudy Barrow and Rami Hilmi
special appearances by
Debra Lamb and Lynn Lowry

 

directed by
Eddie Bammeke

written by
Michael Haberfelner

produced by
Michael Haberfelner, Luana Ribeira and Eddie Bammeke

 

now streaming at

Amazon

Amazon UK

Vimeo

 

 

 

Robots and rats,
demons and potholes,
cuddly toys and
shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

is all of that.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to
-
a collection of short stories and mini-plays
ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic
to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle, all thought up by
the twisted mind of
screenwriter and film reviewer
Michael Haberfelner.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

the new anthology by
Michael Haberfelner

 

Out now from
Amazon!!!